Apparatus and method for switching navigation mode between vehicle navigation mode and personal navigation mode in navigation device

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a pedestrian navigation mode. The apparatus includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to receive a GPS signal; and a controller configured to calculate a speed of the apparatus by using the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver, compare the calculated speed of the apparatus with a threshold speed, and determine the navigation mode of the apparatus between the vehicle navigation mode and the pedestrian navigation mode based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a pedestrian navigation mode, the apparatus comprising:
 a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to receive a GPS signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 calculate a speed of the apparatus by using the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver, 
 compare the calculated speed of the apparatus with a threshold speed, 
 determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being lower than the threshold speed, and 
 determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the vehicle navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being greater than or equal to the threshold speed. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being greater than or equal to the threshold speed, switch the navigation mode of the apparatus from the pedestrian navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode, if the navigation mode of the apparatus is the pedestrian navigation mode. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being lower than the threshold speed, switch the navigation mode of the apparatus from the vehicle navigation mode to the pedestrian navigation mode, if the navigation mode of the apparatus is the vehicle navigation mode. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration of the apparatus,
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 recognize at least one step of a user based on the acceleration of the apparatus detected by the accelerometer; and 
 determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode based on the comparison and the acceleration of the apparatus detected by the accelerometer. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether a number of the recognized at least one step of the user is greater than a threshold value, if the calculated speed of the apparatus lower than or equal to the threshold speed. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode, if the number of the recognized at least one step of the user is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 identify a location of the apparatus by using the GPS signal, and 
 determine the threshold speed based on the location of the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       8. A method for switching a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a pedestrian navigation mode in an apparatus, the method comprising:
 calculating a speed of the apparatus by using a GPS signal received by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver included in the apparatus; 
 comparing the calculated speed of the apparatus with a threshold speed; 
 determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being lower than the threshold speed; and 
 determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the vehicle navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being greater than or equal to the threshold speed. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the vehicle navigation mode comprises switching the navigation mode of the apparatus from the pedestrian navigation mode to the vehicle navigation mode, if the navigation mode of the apparatus is the pedestrian navigation mode. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode comprises switching the navigation mode of the apparatus from the vehicle navigation mode to the pedestrian navigation mode, if the navigation mode of the apparatus is the vehicle navigation mode. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising recognizing at least one step of a user based on an acceleration of the apparatus detected by an accelerometer included in the apparatus,
 wherein determining the navigation mode of the apparatus further comprises determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode based on the comparison result and the acceleration of the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode comprises determining whether a number of the recognized at least one step of the user is greater than a threshold value, if the calculated speed of the apparatus lower than or equal to the threshold speed. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode further comprises determining the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode, if the number of the recognized at least one step of the user is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 identifying a location of the apparatus by using the GPS signal; and 
 determining the threshold speed based on the location of the apparatus. 
 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for determining a navigation mode between a vehicle navigation mode and a pedestrian navigation mode, the apparatus comprising:
 a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to receive a GPS signal; and 
 a controller configured to:
 calculate a speed of the apparatus by using the GPS signal received by the GPS receiver, 
 determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the pedestrian navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being lower than a threshold speed, and 
 determine the navigation mode of the apparatus as the vehicle navigation mode, in response to the calculated speed of the apparatus being greater than or equal to the threshold speed.